... might enjoy this:
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/fly-f...m-article.html
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... might enjoy this:
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/fly-f...m-article.html
Pretty decent, have to disagree with at least one thing though, as least in many circumstances.
Quote:
In bream fishing you don’t need the fly to alight on the water with very little disturbance.
After the fish have been beaten about the head with all the poppers and spiders while bedding and people are cursing that they just wont' hit, I like to slide in with a trout fly, usually size 14 or 16, elk hair caddis or my favorite is a parachute Adams. Land it silently, and let it set. I come in behind a lot of flyfishers and clean house on the fish that flee in panic when they plop a popper down on the water and then chug it back in.
One other phenomenon I've seen on one body of water here that takes a soft hand is int he middle of summer one year I was on a lake, flipping bugs along a shoreline and I kept noticing, waaaaay out there in the middle of the glass smooth lake were tiny dimple. I mean like there was a minnow sipping something. I was in the float tube and kicked that way, started noticing a few more of them. I had on an Adams and managed a nice cast to where I'd just seen one of those little rings. I let it set, and set, and nearby saw another dimple. Picked it up and cast it there, let it set, and it got sucked under. I about crapped when it was a 9" bluegill that came in. It was great sport that evening, and many other evenings, when I could catch them doing that. But it always took an extremely soft cast and you had to let it set. Twitch it much and you'd see a vee where they'd take off. Never seen it on another lake but I'm sure they'd do that.
And as the author says, little nymphs or ants can be deadly. I fish them if nothing else is going on, either free sinking or on a strike indicator.
Really kind of yanks me that word is getting out about trout flies. Hopefully not on the lakes I fish, though. :D Actually, I've been kidding, the author was kidding, it never happened.
And one of the oldest of fly patterns, sinking, is the McGinty. Looks like nothing more than a bumble bee. Panfish love them. You can usually find them on the card displays of flies that many bait stores have hanging up. I tie my own these days, but I bought them off those cards as a kid 45 years ago and I've seen them since.
Author doesn't recommend a tapered leader for bream either. I use them, because I use the same 9' rod and reel combination for trout and that's what's on there, but again, I emphasize soft presentations when dry fly fishing.
Haven't been around here long, need to look around more. I love fishing crappie with flies, haven't noticed anyone talking about it. Little clauser minnow works wonders on them.
Thank you both for your input. It is much appreciated. Illinoisgiller
Pretty good article. It's hard for me to experiment with sinking flies and bugs, though. Poppers work so well and topwater strikes are awesome. I really need to do more with the subsurface flies, though. I'm sure it will put more fish in the cooler. As close as I get is tying on a fly behind my popper:rolleyes: .
I've picked up some good looking spiders and crickets to try this year. I'll have to force myself to give the poppers a break so I can try them:D .
i have been wanting to learn for a while now. but i havent been able to find a rod that i want yet and at a price that i can afford.
I agree, topwater's the best way when they will. But you're also correct, when they won't do it you can put some in the cooler by resorting to smaller flies or wet flies.
I wouldn't worry about that. Not many people will let their dry flies get torn up by bluegills, or go to the hassle of trying to keep them floating (unless the 'gills are unusually big).Quote:
Originally Posted by INGrandad
Thanks, good info , will be fly fishing for the big gils this spring
Like most people who are avid flyfishermen I've discovered something that really works well for panfish here on Lake Okeechobee. I first slide on a tiny bead head on my flyline and then tie on a size 8 Gamakatsu C13U keel style hook. I then thread on a Mister Twister Exude plastic nymph (Mossy Green color)on the hook. The hook is a very thin wire hook that is much easier to remove when its inhaled. I guess the gills think its a grass shrimp. The gills are bigger this year than I have ever seen. I can't think of anything more fun to catch and fry up except for crappie. Its always fun to outfish the cricket & minnow chuckers too. Just my 2 cents.
Don't want to throw stones, some may come back, but I get a kick out doing that, too. Did it today in fact. Crappie just ain't bunched up and predictable around here yet. Minnows were doing zilch for folks today, I at least lay claim to 15 specs and 4 big bluegill. Think part of it has to do with covering a lot of water quickly with a flyline.Quote:
Its always fun to outfish the cricket & minnow chuckers too.
You meant you thread that on your leader didn't you? How do you secure it in place? I've never tried plastics on the flyrod, sounds effective, have to give it a try. But you're scaring me off with recommending Gamakatsu hooks. $$Quote:
I first slide on a tiny bead head on my flyline and then tie on a size 8 Gamakatsu C13U keel style hook.